I Heart Soccer: Diehard fans from UEFA Euro 2012

Face it, Americans take their football seriously. But across the Atlantic, Europeans sure love their soccer. Here’s a look at some diehard fans who dressed up to cheer their national teams for Euro 2012.

A fan of Poland with his face painted in the Polish colours cheers before the start of their Group A Euro 2012 soccer match against Czech Republic at the City Stadium in Wroclaw, June 16, 2012. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

A Portugal’s fan gestures as he waits for the start of their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match against Netherlands at the Metalist stadium in Kharkiv June 17, 2012. (Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)

An Irish supporter reacts as he watches the Euro 2012 soccer match between Italy and Ireland at a fan zone in Poznan June 18, 2012. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Fans of Ukraine react during a public screening of the Euro 2012 Group B soccer match between Ukraine and England in the fan zone in Kiev June 19, 2012. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

Sweden’s soccer fan poses in the centre of Kiev before the Group D Euro 2012 soccer match between Sweden and France, June 19, 2012. (Eddie Keogh/Reuters)

France’s soccer fan cheers before the Group D Euro 2012 soccer match between Sweden and France at Olympic stadium in Kiev, June 19, 2012. (Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters)

A Netherlands’ fan cheers before their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match against Germany at the Metalist stadium in Kharkiv June 13, 2012. (Felix Ordonez/Reuters)

England soccer fans dressed as Batman and Robin cheer before their Group D Euro 2012 soccer match against Ukraine at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk, June 19, 2012. (Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)

A Ukraine soccer fan reacts while watching a screening of the Group D Euro 2012 against England at a fan zone in Donetsk June 19, 2012. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

France’s soccer fans cheer before the Group D Euro 2012 soccer match between Sweden and France at Olympic stadium in Kiev, June 19, 2012. (Eddie Keogh/Reuters)

Sweden soccer fans cheer as they march to the stadium for their team’s Euro 2012 match in central Kiev June 19, 2012. (Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters)

A Croatian supporter cheers before their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Italy at the city stadium in Poznan, June 14, 2012. (Petr Josek/Reuters)

Italian fan cheers before their game against Croatia at the Group C Euro 2012 soccer match at city stadium in Poznan, June 14, 2012. (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

Greece’s fan looks dejected after the Group A Euro 2012 soccer match against Czech Republic at city stadium in Wroclaw, June 12, 2012. (Petr Josek/Reuters)

Greece’s fan looks dejected after the Group A Euro 2012 soccer match against Czech Republic at city stadium in Wroclaw, June 12, 2012. (Petr Josek/Reuters)

A Sweden’s fan wears the outfit in the national flag shape and colors as he cheers before the Group D Euro 2012 soccer match against France at the Olympic stadium in Kiev, June 19, 2012. (Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters)

An Ireland’s fan with a mask of Ireland’s coach Giovanni Trapattoni waits for the start of their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Spain at the PGE Arena stadium in Gdansk, June 14, 2012. (Thomas Bohlen/Reuters)

A Portuguese soccer fan with face painted in national flag colours smiles before their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match against Netherlands at the Metalist stadium in Kharkiv, June 17, 2012. (Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)

A Netherlands fans waits for the begin of the Group B Euro 2012 soccer match against Portugal at Metalist stadium in Kharkiv, June 17, 2012. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

A Netherlands fans waits for the begin of the Group B Euro 2012 soccer match against Portugal at Metalist stadium in Kharkiv, June 17, 2012. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

A fan of Croatia cheers before their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Spain at the PGE Arena in Gdansk June 18, 2012. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)

Italy’s fans cheer before their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Ireland at the City stadium in Poznan, June 18, 2012. (Sergio Perez/Reuters)

Spain’s soccer fans cheer before the start of their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Croatia at the PGE Arena in Gdansk, June 18, 2012. (Pascal Lauener/Reuters)

A fan of Croatia cheers before their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Spain at the PGE Arena in Gdansk June 18, 2012. (Thomas Bohlen/Reuters)

A Spain’s soccer fan with sunglasses in colors of the national flag cheers as he waits for the start of the Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Croatia at the PGE Arena in Gdansk, June 18, 2012. (Pascal Lauener/Reuters)

A fan of Croatia with his face painted in national flag colours is pictured before their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Spain at the PGE Arena in Gdansk June 18, 2012. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)

A young Irish soccer fan cheers before the Group C Euro 2012 soccer match between Italy and Ireland at the city stadium in Poznan June 18, 2012. (Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters)

An Italy’s fan cheers before their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Ireland at the Ctiy stadium in Poznan June 18, 2012. (Sergio Perez/Reuters)

An Irish supporter cheers before their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match between Italy and Ireland at the city stadium in Poznan, June 18, 2012. (Petr Josek/Reuters)

An Italian soccer fan cheers before the start of the Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Ireland at the City stadium in Poznan, June 18, 2012. (Sergio Perez/Reuters)

Croatian fans cheer before Euro 2012 soccer match against Spain in the Old Town of Gdansk June 18, 2012. (Peter Andrews/Reuters)

Spanish fans cheer before Euro 2012 soccer match against Croatia in the Old Town of Gdansk June 18, 2012. (Peter Andrews/Reuters)

England’s fans wear Prince Charles (R) and Prince Philipp masks as they cheer before Group D Euro 2012 soccer match against France at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk June 11, 2012. (Yves Herman/Reuters)

Sweden’s soccer fans with painted bodies cheer before their Group D Euro 2012 soccer match against Ukraine at the Olympic stadium in Kiev, June 11, 2012. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

A Greece soccer fan with his face painted smiles as he waits for the start of the Group A Euro 2012 soccer match against Czech Republic at the city stadium in Wroclaw, June 12, 2012. (Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters)

Sweden’s soccer fan cheers before their Group D Euro 2012 soccer match against Ukraine at the Olympic stadium in Kiev, June 11, 2012. (Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters)

Ukrainian soccer fans react as they watch Euro 2012 soccer match between Sweden and Ukraine in the fan zone in Kiev, June 11, 2012. (Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters)

A Sweden’s soccer fan cheers before the start of their Group D Euro 2012 soccer match against Ukraine at the Olympic stadium in Kiev, June 11, 2012. (Darren Staples/Reuters)

Sweden soccer fans paint each others faces before marching to the Olympic stadium in Kiev June 11, 2012. Sweden will play its first match of the Euro 2012 soccer championships against Ukraine in Kiev on Monday. (Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters)

Czech Republic’s soccer team fan with her face painted cheers before the start of the Group A Euro 2012 soccer match against Greece at the City stadium in Wroclaw June 12, 2012. (Sergio Perez/Reuters)

A Greece soccer fan wearing a Spartan helmet waits for the start of the Group A Euro 2012 soccer match against Czech Republic at the city stadium in Wroclaw, June 12, 2012. (Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters)

A Polish soccer fan shouts on his way to the National Stadium in Warsaw, June 12, 2012. Russia on Tuesday will play Poland in their Euro 2012 Group A soccer tournament in Warsaw. (Jerzy Dudek/Reuters)

A Poland soccer fan waits for the start of the Group A Euro 2012 soccer match between Poland and Russia at the National stadium in Warsaw June 12, 2012. (Pascal Lauener/Reuters)

Russia’s soccer fans cheer before the Group A Euro 2012 soccer match against Poland at national stadium in Warsaw June 12, 2012. (Pawel Ulatowski/Reuters)

Denmark soccer fans drink beer and sing in Lviv June 13, 2012. Denmark will play match of the Euro 2012 soccer championships against Portugal in Lviv. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

A Dutch soccer fan smiles as he relaxes at the Euro 2012 fan zone in Kharkiv, some 480 km (300 miles) east of Kiev, June 13, 2012. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

A Denmark soccer fan with his face painted in national colors smiles in Lviv June 13, 2012. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

A Dutch soccer fan smiles as he relaxes at the Euro 2012 fan zone in Kharkiv, some 480 km (300 miles) east of Kiev, June 13, 2012, ahead of the Group B Euro 2012 between Netherlands and Gemany. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

A Poland soccer fan shouts before the Group A Euro 2012 soccer match between Poland and Russia at the National stadium in Warsaw June 12, 2012. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)

An Irish soccer fan posses for a photo at Long Market in Gdansk, June 13, 2012. Peter Andrews/Reuters)

Swedish fans pose before the Euro 2012 football championships match Sweden vs France on June 19, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev. (Genya Savilovgenya/AFP/Getty Images)

France supporters pose on June 19, 2012 at the fanzone in Kiev, ahead of the Euro 2012 football championships match Sweden vs. France. (Genya Savilovgenya/AFP/Getty Images)

Fans of Spain’s national football team react ahead of the Euro 2012 football championships match Croatia vs Spain on June 18, 2012 at the Gdansk Arena. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)

A Fan from Netherlands cheers prior to the begining of the Euro 2012 football championships match Portugal vs. Netherlands, on June 17, 2012 at the Metalist stadium in Kharkov. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images)

Fans from Netherlands cheer prior to the begining of the Euro 2012 football championships match Portugal vs. Netherlands, on June 17, 2012 at the Metalist stadium in Kharkov. (Patrick Hertzog/AFP/Getty Images)

Fans from Netherlands cheer prior to the begining of the Euro 2012 football championships match Portugal vs. Netherlands, on June 17, 2012 at the Metalist stadium in Kharkov. (Patrick Hertzog/AFP/Getty Images)

A German fan is pictured on June 17, 2012 in Lviv, ahead of the Euro 2012 football championships match Denmark vs. Germany. (Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images)

A Danish fan with his national flag painted on the face is pictured ahead of the Euro 2012 football championships match Denmark vs. Germany on June 17, 2012 in Lviv. (Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images)

An Irish supporter is pictured prior to the Euro 2012 championships football match Spain vs Republic of Ireland on June 14, 2012 at the Gdansk Arena. (Gabriel Boys/AFP/Getty Images)

Disguised fans of the Netherlands’ national football team pose prior to the Euro 2012 championships football match the Netherlands vs Germany on June 12, 2012 at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv. (Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images)

A Russian supporter is pictured prior to the Euro 2012 championships football match Poland vs Russia on June 12, 2012 at the National Stadium in Warsaw. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)

A Polish supporter is pictured prior to the Euro 2012 championships football match Poland vs Russia on June 12, 2012 at the National Stadium in Warsaw. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)

A Netherlands fan enjoys the atmosphere prior to the UEFA EURO 2012 group B match between Netherlands and Germany at Metalist Stadium on June 13, 2012 in Kharkov, Ukraine. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The Darkroom offers Facebook and WordPress commenting in the hopes of fostering constructive conversation among our users. Please abide by our
Terms of Service when commenting on the site.

Categories

ABOUT THE DARKROOM

The Darkroom, the photography and video blog of The Baltimore Sun, shines a light on visually captivating stories of our past and present. It showcases the exciting work of our staff, offers tips in the craft, and highlights the emerging community of independent media makers. We want your feedback – please contact us with suggestions and ideas.